The Truth About Water!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKkp5JHqN3cIK2q9MQVZO09ycMB2Hny64CaFmD1D9r9EQaHcsmlAjLMF_FnHWXCd5lMtR6cXSIAYHYXIRDIzUfMVXf9qsYIFfwVQCl80z8lVZfE7qggtpvG2eJTVcfEAslKodJ2Z_gr8G/s1600/10593026_849180238440421_6223120601986501652_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKkp5JHqN3cIK2q9MQVZO09ycMB2Hny64CaFmD1D9r9EQaHcsmlAjLMF_FnHWXCd5lMtR6cXSIAYHYXIRDIzUfMVXf9qsYIFfwVQCl80z8lVZfE7qggtpvG2eJTVcfEAslKodJ2Z_gr8G/s1600/10593026_849180238440421_6223120601986501652_n-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Clean drinking water is something that the public has pretty much taken for granted for the past</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hundred years. The public has little idea--perhaps understandably--just how contaminated our drinking water has become. Our environment has changed, new biological transformations are emerging, drinking- water systems are aging, and governments seem more interested in ensuring business in the global marketplace than in ensuring the safety and health of the world citizens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain corrodes copper, lead, and galvanized pipes. There are hundreds of agricultural pollutants, including pesticides and fertilizer, industrial pollutants including plasticizers, solvents, and propellants; along with chemicals added to aid in the coagulation of water can be of great concern to water pollution.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A National Assessment of Tap Water Quality found 260 contaminants in our nation's tap water; 141 of these contaminants have no enforceable safety limits. Of the 141 unregulated contaminants utilities detected in water supplies between 1998 and 2003, 52 are linked to cancer, 41 to reproductive toxicity, 36 to developmental toxicity, and 16 to immune system damage, according to chemical listings in seven standard government and industry toxicity references.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite the potential health risks, any concentration of these chemicals in tap water is legal, no matter how high.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, the EPA's own scientists have identified 600 chemicals in tap water formed as by-products of disinfection--they tracked 220 million pounds of 650 industrial chemicals discharged to rivers and streams annually. They also spearheaded research on emerging contaminants after the U.S. Geological</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Survey found: 82 unregulated pharmaceuticals, hormones, medications, and residues of consumer products in rivers and streams across the country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Intensive use of highly acidic antibiotics in humanand veterinarian medicine and in industrial farming (food additives) has resulted in the transport of significant quantities of the active ingredients to environmental waters. All told, EPA has set safety standards for fewer than 20 percent of the many hundreds of chemicals that it has identifiedin our drinking water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many of these compounds enter the human body through our skin when we bathe or swim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By failing to clean up rivers and reservoirs that provide drinking water for hundreds of millions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of Americans, EPA and the Congress have forced water utility companies to decontaminate water that is polluted with industrial chemicals, factory farm waste, sewage, pesticides, fertilizer, and sediment.  In its most recent national Water Quality Inventory EPA found that 45 percent of lakes and 39 percent of streams and rivers are "impaired"--unsafe for drinking, fishing, or even swimming, in some cases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even after water suppliers filter and disinfect the water, scores of contaminants remain, with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">conventional treatment regimes removing less than 20 percent of some contaminants. By failing to set tap water safety standards expeditiously or require and fund comprehensive testing, EPA allows widespread exposures to chemical mixtures posing known risks to human health.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A Fractional Damage Assessment from Acid Rain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain is produced when nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon dioxide gas in the upper atmosphere react with water particles to produce nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and carbonic acid respectively. Unpolluted rainfall normally balanced alkaline pH of about 7.1 to 7.3, whilst acid rain has a pH that varies from 4.1 to 5.5.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rainwater was naturally slightly alkaline because it contained a small amount of dissolved carbon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dioxide gas. This forms a small amount of carbonic acid. Acid rain contains abnormally high levels of carbonic acid (from the excessive amounts of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuel).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The word equation is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon dioxide + water = carbonic acid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we burn fossil fuels (especially coal), sulphur dioxide is made and released into the air. When sulphur dioxide dissolves in rainwater, it makes sulphuric acid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulphur dioxide + water = sulfuric acid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulphur Dioxide reacts with a wide range of substances found in food, including various</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">essential vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulfuric acid is actually a mixture of acids in high concentrations. Sulfuric acid is much</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stronger than carbonic acid. It is extremely corrosive and it causes damage to rocks, animals, and plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulfuric acid can cause severe burns to all body tissue and may be fatal if swallowed or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contacted with skin. It is harmful if inhaled; it affects teeth; it is a cancerous hazard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid can lead to cancerous tissues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitrous oxides react with water vapor to form nitric acid. Nitric acid is a highly corrosive and toxic acid that can cause severe burns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitrous oxides + water = nitric acid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitric acid is a cancerous-causing agent. It is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">also a powerful dehydrating agent, so powerful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that much of the damage it does to the human</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">body is because it pulls water even out of other</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">molecules in chemical reactions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apart from emissions of sulphur dioxide and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrogen oxides from the combustion of fossil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fuels, there are also other substances that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contribute to acid rain formation. These include</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hydrochloric acid and organic carboxylic acids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These organic acids include acetic acid and formic acid and are formed when volatile organic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compounds are oxidized in the air.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain causes a cascade of effects that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">harm or kill individual fish, reduce fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">population numbers, completely eliminating fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">species from a body of water, and decrease</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">biodiversity. Damages also show up in land</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">animals, affecting their behavior and feeding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">patterns. Acid rain kills trees, crops, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">other vegetation; damages buildings and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">monuments; corrodes copper, galvanized steel,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and lead piping; damages such manufactured</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">things as automobiles; and reduces soil fertility.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain can raise the level of heavy metals,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">many of which are carcinogenic, teratogenic,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">transforming, reproductive toxins, or neurological</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxins in drinking water supplies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pure acid water extracted from drinking water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">will burn holes in the outer membranes of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">micro-forms like parasites, bacteria, yeast,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and microscopic worms. Pure acid water will</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">transform parasites and their eggs, bacteria,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yeast and mold. Pure acid water has a strong</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oxidation potential (a shortage of electrons)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">giving it the ability to ferment, spoil and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sterilize. When extracted from drinking water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">about one third of the water is acid water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(and the third part of the waters became wormwood). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Think of the effects it can have on the plant, animal or human body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain raises the level of heavy metals, some of which are poisonous, in drinking water supplies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polluted acidic waters contain higher than average levels of heavy and toxic metals, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), photochemical oxidants, and a laundry list of other toxins that lose serious health threats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some acidic toxins enter the human body through air, water, and/or through our skin (when we bathe or swim many of these toxins are absorbed through our skin). Other poisonous metals and toxins that are dissolved into the rain water are absorbed by the fruit, vegetables we eat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of the meat we eat is saturated with acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxins that were absorbed through the skin and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">into the tissue of the animals. In addition,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">animals eat these plants and other animals,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">perpetuating the cycle. Many heavy metals</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are bio-accumulative and highly acidic. They can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">accumulate in the soft tissues when the body</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cannot metabolize them so they end up in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">connective and fatty tissues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid rain contains caustic acids that tend to make the pH of the human body more acidic. Drinking acidic water can cause many serious dis-eases. All of the water we drink (including bottled, purified, reverse osmosis, and some distilled waters) contain these acids. It can be difficult to balance the pH of people consuming water loaded with these poisonous acidic wastes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Breathing acidic air fogs (including hot shower or bath water) can damage our respiratory system. Some of these acids are powerful dehydrating agents, so powerful that much of the damage they do to the human body is because they pull water even out of other molecules in chemical reactions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">acidic chemicals that adversely affect human</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health and the environment around the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because they can be transported by wind and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water, most POPs generated in one country can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">affect people and wildlife far from where they</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are used and released. They persist for long</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">periods of time in the environment and can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">accumulate and pass from one species to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">next through the food chain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although scientists have more to learn about</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">POPs acidic chemicals, decades of scientific</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">research have greatly increased our knowledge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of POPs' impacts on people and wildlife. For</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">example, laboratory studies have shown that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">low doses of certain POPs adversely affect</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some organ systems and aspects of development.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Studies also have shown that chronic exposure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to low doses of certain POPs can result in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reproductive and immune system deficits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exposure to high levels of certain POPs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chemicals - higher than normally encountered</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by humans and wildlife - can cause serious</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">damage or death.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are acids called dioxins and dioxin-like</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compounds in the food supply. Dioxin and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dioxin-like compounds, or DLCs, are found</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">throughout the environment, in soil, water,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and air. People are exposed to these</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unintentional environmental contaminants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">primarily through the food supply, particularly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by eating animal fat in meat, dairy products,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and fish. Another reason to avoid eating acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">animal flesh, dairy or fish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">According to the U.S. Environmental Protection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Agency, over 90% of our exposure to acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dioxins is through food, with major sources</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">including beef, dairy products, milk, chicken,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pork, fish, and eggs. Dioxins are also passed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from mother to developing infant across the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">placenta and through breastfeeding. Dioxins,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PCBs, DDT and other organochlorines are among </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the 200 plus chemicals found in human breast milk </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">today that can lead to a host of infant dis-ease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acidic dioxins and related compounds are highly persistent in the environment and in living</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">organisms. PCB's can remain in human connective and fat tissue for decades. It is believed that almost all living beings on earth have dioxin-like compounds in their body tissues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No amount of dioxin exposure can be considered safe, as very small amounts have been associated with impaired developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune function. Acidic dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known to humankind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cancerous risk from eating animal flesh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminated with acidic dioxin is another</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">clear warning that livestock foods have a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">direct impact on human food quality and safety.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The health risks posed by the levels of acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dioxins in human foods and animal feeds have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yet to be ascertained by government officials.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Therefore, conveniently, governments do not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">recommend regulatory limits on acidic dioxins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or dioxin-like compounds in food or feed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(even though PCBs and dioxin are known endocrine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">disruptors).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitrate is a chemical that enters water from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">erosion of natural deposits. Potential health</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">impacts associated with the acid nitrite includes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cardiovascular or acidic blood toxicity, acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kidney toxicity, and acidic reproductive toxicity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The acid nitrate is one of the most common</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">groundwater contaminants in rural areas. Fertilizer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrogen that is not taken up by plants, volatilized,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or carried away by surface runoff - leaches to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">groundwater in the form of the acid nitrate. Septic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">systems also can elevate groundwater nitrate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concentrations because they remove only half of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the nitrogen in wastewater, leaving the remaining</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">half to percolate to groundwater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of Nitrate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tests reported by 32,210 public water suppliers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in 41 states shows that between 1998 and 2003,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">176 million people in 23,704 communities drank</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">acidic water contaminated with nitrate. In 657</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of these communities, tap water was contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at levels above health-based thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitrate occurs in the environment, in air, food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(particularly in vegetables and fruits) and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water, and is produced endogenously. It is also</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">used as a food additive, mainly as a preservative</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and anti-microbial agent. It is used in foods</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">such as cheese and cheese products, raw and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">processed meats, edible casings, processed fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and fish products and spirits and liqueurs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since most of our produce is grown with potassium,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrogen, and phosphorous fertilizers, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irrigated with water that is contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrate (and about 600 other contaminates),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the produce we eat contains unnaturally high</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">levels of nitrate. Synergistically unbalanced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and contaminated acidic food will not sustain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our health; it will actually poison us to death.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are the health effects? Nitrates can react</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with hemoglobin to reduce the oxygen-carrying</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">capacity of the blood. Nitrates may combine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with other substances to form nitrosamines,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">which are carcinogenic, and it may have an</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">atrophying affect on the adrenal gland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drinking water have caused serious illness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and sometimes death. In some parts of the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">country, beets, turnips, carrots, collard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">greens and spinach contain large amounts of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrates, a chemical that can cause an unusual</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">type of anemia (low blood count) in young infants,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">referred to as methemoglobinemia or blue baby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">syndrome. Symptoms include shortness of breath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and blueness of the skin. The serious illness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to nitrite by the body, which interferes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">blue baby syndrome can be an acute condition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in which health deteriorates rapidly over a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">period of days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Long-term: Nitrates and nitrites have the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the maximum contaminant level: excessive discharge of urine, increased starchy deposits and hemorrhaging of the spleen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Heavy metal aberrations found in our drinking water are directly causative or associative with dis-easeand ill health. A few examples are anemia, cardiac conditions, depression, digestive problems, high blood pressure, hormone imbalance, impaired, growth, infertility, insomnia, learning and behavioral problems, osteoporosis, chronic inflammation, and tumor proliferation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Heavy metal toxins contribute to a variety of adverse health effects. There are more than 65</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">different heavy metals and toxic acidic compounds that impact human health.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Accumulation within the body can lead to a decline in the mental, cognitive, and physical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health of the individual. Many of these pollutants are carcinogenic, teratogenic, reproductive acidic toxins, or neurological acidic toxins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The increased acidity of rain also releases many</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">minerals that do not naturally occur or do not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">belong in water at these disproportionate levels,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thus producing what is called hard water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a result, these acidic toxins are consumed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in drinking water or are ingested by plants,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">animals, or aquatic life, which are then eaten</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by humans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When numerous metals are present in the body,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they have a "synergistic toxicity." Dr. Boyd Haley,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">professor and chair of the chemistry department</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at the University of Kentucky, performed a study</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">on rats and found that the mortality rate of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rats exposed to a small dose of mercury or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aluminum killed only 1 rat in 100. However, when</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the rats were exposed to both mercury and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aluminum at the same time, all 100 rats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">died - a 100% mortality rate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a few more ways that acid deposition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">has altered and continues to alter our soils:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid deposition depletes calcium, magnesium,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and other base minerals from the soil - this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">depletion of base minerals fundamentally alters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soil processes, compromises the nutrition of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">crops, and hinders the capacity for sensitive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soils to recover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid deposition facilitates the mobilization</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of dissolved inorganic minerals into soil water -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the increased acidity of rain releases many</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">minerals that do not naturally occur or do not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">belong in water at these disproportionate levels,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thus producing what is called hard water - as a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">result, they are consumed in drinking water or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are ingested by plants, animals, or aquatic life,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">which are then eaten by humans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Acid deposition increases the accumulation of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sulfur and nitrogen in the soil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To some extent all minerals compete for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">absorption, compete for the same binding sites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Studies have shown that excesses of particular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">minerals can result in deficiencies in others;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">likewise, deficiencies of some minerals promote</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">excesses of others. This mutual dependence</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">means not only are minerals required in optimal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">amounts but also in relative amounts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Severe health problems arising from human contact</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with acidic toxic or hazardous wastes are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">increasingly common.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The seriousness of this problem cannot be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">underestimated in light of findings from the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">World Health Organization (WHO) who revealed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that 60-80% of heavy metal toxins found in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">human bodies in urban industrial areas were</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the result of consuming contaminated foods</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and water rather than through air pollution.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The burning of coal releases many contaminants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">into the atmosphere, among these are mercury,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cadmium, arsenic, and lead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">MERCURY</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mercury occurs primarily in two forms: organic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury and inorganic mercury. Inorganic mercury</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and elemental mercury are both toxins that can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">produce a wide range of adverse health affects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inorganic mercury is used in thermometers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">barometers, dental fillings, batteries, electrical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wiring and switches, fluorescent light bulbs,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pesticides, fungicides, vaccines, paint,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">skin-tightening creams, antiseptic creams,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pharmaceutical drugs, and other ointments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Humans have the ability to convert this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inorganic mercury to an organic form once it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">has become absorbed into the bloodstream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Organic mercury is known to bio-accumulate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">due to the body's inability to process and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">eliminate it. Rain is contaminated with mercury</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from coal-fired electric plants and the burning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of fossil fuel. Mercury is one of the heavy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">metals that cause dangerous inflammation in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">body tissues. Acidification increases bio-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">conversion of mercury to methylmercury;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">methylmercury is a neurotoxin, and the form</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of mercury that is most easily bio-accumulated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in organisms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Methyl mercury compounds, such as dimethyl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury, are among the most dangerous. Mercury</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">salts released into the environment may frequently</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">be converted by anaerobic bacteria into such</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compounds, which can then be carried through</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the food chain to humans. Methylmercury exposure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">via food most often occurs when seafood-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing mercury is eaten, or when mercury-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing plants, such as rice, are consumed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Organic mercury is often found in produce,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">farm animals, processed grains, dairy products,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and surface water sources.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Potential health impacts associated with mercury</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include cancerous states, cardiovascular or blood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">immunotoxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and skin sensitivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Occupational exposure to mercury containing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compounds presents a significant health risk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to individuals. Dentists, painters, fishermen,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">electricians, pharmaceutical/laboratories workers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">farmers, factory workers, miners, chemists, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beauticians are just some of the professions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chronically exposed to mercury compounds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury tests reported by 28,299 public water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suppliers in 40 states shows that between 1998</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and 2003, 18.5 million people in 1,298 communities</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drank water contaminated with mercury. In 37 of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these communities, tap water was contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at levels above health-based thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Environmental Health Perspectives found that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">89 percent of their female patients had</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury levels above what most scientists</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">consider safe, and that high mercury levels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in adults correlated with memory loss,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fatigue, and muscle aches. Another preliminary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">study this year found that mothers who delivered</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">prematurely were more likely to have high</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury levels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unborn babies are at the greatest risk. Babies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">developing in the womb seem to be most vulnerable</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to the effects of mercury on their brains</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and nervous systems. Mercury is poisoning an</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">entire generation of our nation's children!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">CADMIUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadmium emissions arise from two major source</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">categories, natural sources and anthropogenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(man-made) sources. Emissions occur to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">three major compartments of the environment -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">air, water, and soil, but there may be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">considerable transfer between the three</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compartments after initial deposition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Man-made cadmium emissions arise either from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the manufacture, use and disposal of products</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">intentionally utilizing cadmium, or from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the presence of cadmium as a natural but</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not functional impurity in non-cadmium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing products. Cadmium (for industrial</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">use) is produced in large quantities, over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8 million metric tons in 1999. Cadmium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">generated by metal smelters/refiners is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cemented and buried, stored for future</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">use, or disposed of in landfills as hazardous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">acidic waste.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadmium poses a major concern to food safety</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">because is taken up relatively easily by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">crops. What makes cadmium unique is that it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is not toxic to plants at concentrations of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concern to human health. Consumption of crops</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is the main source of human exposure at</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">approximately 75%. Grains, leafy greens,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and root crops are associated with elevated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">levels of cadmium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadmium accumulates in the body; although a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">person's daily intake may be as little as 0.05</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">milligrams, he or she will have stored, on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">average, about 50 milligrams. Cadmium is a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">poison and is known to cause birth defects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and cancerous tissue. It can stay in one's body</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for years and can also change forms within</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadmium interferes with the metabolism of copper,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin D. An</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Environmental Working Group analysis of cadmium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tests reported by 28,944 public water suppliers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in 41 states shows that between 1998 and 2003,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9.5 million people in 1,364 communities drank</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water contaminated with cadmium. In 1,040 of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these communities, tap water was contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at levels above health-based thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ARSENIC</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">According to a 1999 study by the National Academy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of Sciences, arsenic in drinking water causes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a cancerous bladder, lung, and skin, and may</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cause a cancerous kidney and liver. The study</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">also found that arsenic harms the central and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">peripheral nervous systems, as well as heart and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It can cause birth defects and reproductive problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arsenic is a natural element of the earth's crust.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is used in industry and agriculture, and for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">other purposes. It also is a byproduct of copper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">smelting, mining, and coal burning. U.S.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">industries release thousands of pounds of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">arsenic into the environment every year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The use of this toxic element in numerous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">industrial processes has resulted in its</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">presence in many biological and ecological</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">systems. Ground, surface, and drinking water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are susceptible to arsenic poisoning from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the use of arsenic in smelting, refining,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">galvanizing, and power plants; environmental</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminants like pesticides, herbicides,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">insecticides, fungicides, desiccants,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wood preservatives, and animal feed additives;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and human made hazardous waste sites, chemical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wastes, and antibiotics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arsenic suppresses iodine and selenium. It</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is a carcinogen that inactivates sulfhydryl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">groups leading to cell death, increases</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bleeding time, reduces thyroid function by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">interfering with iodine metabolism, depresses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bone marrow involved in methionine metabolism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Low serum arsenic is correlated with central</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nervous system disorders, vascular disease,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and cancerous tissue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Data compiled by the U.S. Environmental</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Protection Agency on arsenic in drinking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water in 25 states found conservative</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">estimates indicate that more than 34</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">million Americans drink tap water supplied</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by systems containing average levels of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">arsenic that pose unacceptable cancerous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">risks. We consider it likely that as many</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as 56 million people in those 25 states</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">have been drinking water with arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at unsafe levels--and that is just the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">25 states that reported arsenic information</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to the EPA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some plants are arsenic-resistant or can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">block arsenic uptake by their root systems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still other food crops accumulate arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at levels that raise human health concerns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since plants take up arsenic primarily by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">their roots, the highest level of arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">accumulation is usually in roots and tubers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">such as carrots and potatoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Studies have shown close associations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between both inhaled and ingested arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and cancerous rates. Cancerous conditions of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the skin, liver, respiratory tract, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal tract are well documented</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in regards to arsenic exposure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">LEAD</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead is the 5th most utilized metal in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">U.S. Human exposure to lead occurs primarily</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">through drinking water, airborne lead-containing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">particulates, and lead-based paints. The primary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">source of lead in drinking water is from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lead-based plumbing materials. The corrosion of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">such materials will continue to increase</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concentrations of lead in municipal drinking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water. The EPA actually allows small amounts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of lead to be present in our tap water due</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to this insurmountable problem. Grounding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of household electrical systems to plumbing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">may also exacerbate corrosion. Corrosion of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plumbing is by far the greatest cause for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concern. All water is corrosive to metal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plumbing materials to some degree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead from water and airborne sources have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">been shown to accumulate in agricultural</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">areas leading to increased concentrations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in agricultural produce and farm animals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cigarette smoke is also a significant source</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of lead exposure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A certain amount of lead is always in our</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bodies because of the background presence</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of lead in food, water, and sources in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the soil. The EPA estimates that drinking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water can make up 20 percent or more of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a person's total exposure to lead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Atmospherically derived lead is a widely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">distributed contaminant that can inhibit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a range of essential ecosystem processes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in soils. Lead has made its way into food,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">animals, and humans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because of the possibility of permanent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">impairment, lead poisoning is particularly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dangerous during the critical development</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">periods of infants and young children under</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the age of 7 years. Young children, those</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6 years and younger, are at particular risk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for lead exposure because they have frequent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hand-to-mouth activity and absorb lead more</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">easily than do adults. Children's nervous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">systems are still undergoing development and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are therefore more susceptible to the effects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of toxic agents. Lead is also harmful to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">developing fetuses of pregnant women.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead in drinking water is a significant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contributor to overall exposure to lead,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">particularly for infants whose diet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">consists of liquids made with water, such</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as baby food or formula.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead is one of the most toxic elements</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">naturally occurring on Earth. High</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concentrations of lead can cause</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irreversible brain damage, seizure,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">coma, and death if not treated immediately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Evidence suggests that lead may cause fatigue,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irritability, memory problems, reduction</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in sensory and motor reaction times,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">decision making impairment, and lapses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in concentration. In adults, lead is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">very detrimental to the cardiovascular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Occupationally exposed individuals tend to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">have higher blood pressure and are at an</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">increased risk for cardiovascular disease,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">myocardial infarction, and stroke. The</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kidneys are targets of lead toxicity and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">prone to impairment at moderate to high</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">levels of lead concentrations. Other</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">signs/symptoms of lead toxicity include</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal disturbances, abdominal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pain, cramps, constipation, anorexia and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">weight loss, immunosuppression, and some</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">liver impairment. Lead can affect almost</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">every organ and system in our body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No safe blood lead level in children has</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">been determined. Children absorb lead much</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more efficiently than adults do after</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exposure and are susceptible to the most</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">damaging effects of lead toxicity. Lead</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not only appears to affect cognitive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">development of young children but also</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">other areas of neuropsychological function.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Low levels of lead in blood have been</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">associated with reduced IQ and attention</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">span, learning disabilities, poor classroom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">performance, hyperactivity, behavioral</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">problems, impaired growth, and hearing loss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Very high blood lead levels can cause severe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">neurological problems such as mental</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">retardation, coma, convulsions, and even</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">death. Lead has been determined by many</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health experts to be the #1 threat to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">developing children in our industrial</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">societies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most sensitive is the central nervous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">system (brain), particularly in children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead also damages kidneys and the reproductive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">system. The effects are the same whether it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is breathed or swallowed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lead tests reported by 21,997 public water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suppliers in 35 states shows that between</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1998 and 2003, 50.4 million people in 7,942</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">communities drank water contaminated with lead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2,275 of these communities, tap water was</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminated at levels above health-based</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">IRON</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inorganic iron is one of the most troublesome</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">elements in water supplies. Making up at least</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5 percent of the earth's crust, iron is one of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the earth's most plentiful resources. Acidic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rain water as it infiltrates the soil and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">underlying geologic formations excessively</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dissolves iron, causing it to seep into</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aquifers that serve as sources of groundwater</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for wells. This is one reason that there</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is a high prevalence of increased iron</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stores in the general population of western</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">countries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inorganic iron is almost indigestible. When</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">people suffering from anemia are given</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">supplements of inorganic iron, these supplements</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are poorly absorbed in the gut and can have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">many unpleasant side effects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Excess iron accumulates in the pancreas causes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tissue injury. Iron affects glucose metabolism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Iron stores are associated with insulin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sensitivity, insulin secretion, and insulin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">resistance. High inorganic iron causes excessive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sodium retention. Tissue iron excess contributes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to produce and amplify the injury caused by acidity</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as well as to modulate various steps involved in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the inflammatory lesion. It should not be ignored</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that chronic inflammation caused by dietary and/or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">metabolic acid, to some extent, to increase ferritin concentration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">CHROMIUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chromium is abundant in the earth's crust and is widely dispersed in the environment. It is used</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">extensively in refractory materials and chemicals, as a plating to produce hard and smooth surfaces, to prevent corrosion, and in manufacturing stainless and alloy steels. Major atmospheric emissions of chromium arise from metal producing industries, coal-fired plants, municipal incinerators, and cooling towers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chromium-6 or Hexavalent chromium is an inorganic chemical that can be toxic. Chromium-6 has been in the news lately because it has been found in groundwater due to industrial contamination. It was the focus of the popular movie Erin Brockovich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hexavalent chromium in the workplace is suspected of being carcinogenic. Excessive exposure to dusts or mists of hexavalent chromium compounds produces dermatitis, skin lesions, and ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum, as well as liver and kidney damage. With long-term exposure to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hexavalent chromium compounds, incidence of human lung cancer increases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hexavalent chromium tests reported by 1,111</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">public water suppliers in 3 states shows that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between 1998 and 2003, 33.4 million people in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">519 communities drank water contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hexavalent chromium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BARIUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barium is a heavy metal released into the air</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by human activities, mainly barium mines, metal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">production facilities, and industrial boilers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that burn coal and oil. When coal and oil are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">burned to generate electricity, an ash is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">produced which contains more than 99% of their</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">barium content. Barium released into the soil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and water comes from copper smelters and oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drilling waste disposal sites. Industries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Agency (EPA) released 159 tons of barium into</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the environment in 1995. More than half was</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">released to the soil. Some foods, such as</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brazil nuts, seaweed, fish, and certain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">vegetables, may contain high amounts of barium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barium and barium compounds are used for many commercial processes. Barium sulfate is mined and used in oil and gas production, medical procedures, and the manufacture of paints, bricks, tiles, glass, and rubber. Other barium compounds are used in the manufacture of ceramics, pesticides, and oil and fuel additives.  In addition, physicians often instruct their patients to swallow a barium compound solution as part of certain medical test procedures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">barium tests reported by 29,280 public water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suppliers in 41 states shows that between</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1998 and 2003, 147 million people in 20,626</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">communities drank water contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">barium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barium interferes with natural immune system</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">functioning. Barium compounds are extremely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">poisonous. At low doses, barium acts as a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">muscle stimulant, while higher doses affect</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the nervous system, causing cardiac</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dyspnea, and paralysis. This may be due to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">its ability to block potassium ion channels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that are critical to the proper function of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the nervous system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As barium weakens the immune systems of the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">masses, we should expect to see statistically</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">significant increases in various dis-eases</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that might normally be minimally occurring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in a population with a fully-activated immune</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BERYLLIUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Beryllium is a metal from metal refineries,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">coal burning, and pollution from electrical,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aerospace and defense industries. Potential</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health impacts associated with beryllium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include cancerous conditions, cardiovascular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or blood toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, immunotoxicity, kidney toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and skin sensitivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beryllium tests reported by 29,913 public</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water suppliers in 41 states shows that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between 1998 and 2003, 6.9 million people</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in 720 communities drank water contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with beryllium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">MOLYBDENUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Molybdenum is a by-product of copper and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tungsten mining. It is used as an alloy for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">various metals, and it occurs naturally in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soil and rock. Potential health impacts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">associated with molybdenum include</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Plants can, under certain conditions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">accumulate large concentrations of molybdenum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Molybdenum uptake by plants increases with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">increased soil pH. Molybdenum can cause</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">acute clinical disease and subsequent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">death by interfering with copper metabolism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">molybdenum tests reported by 1,183 public</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water suppliers in nine states shows that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between 1998 and 2003, 24.6 million people</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in 134 communities drank water contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with molybdenum. In 84 of these communities,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tap water was contaminated at levels above</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health-based thresholds. Molybdenum remains</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unregulated in tap water, without a maximum</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">legal limit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Molybdenum is mobile in plants and in soil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is less available in soils with a lower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pH. Acid-leached forest and sandstone soils</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are generally low in molybdenum. Acid rain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">causes molybdenum to be released from the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soil, which contaminates our water and food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">supply.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PHOSPHOROUS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Phosphorus is a component of fertilizer and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">manure, and a pollutant in municipal wastewater</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">discharges. Potential health impacts associated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with phosphorus include cardiovascular or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">blood toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, kidney toxicity, musculoskeletal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Organic phosphate fertilizers contain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">radionuclides (such as radium, radon,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">radioactive lead, polonium, thorium, etc),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxic metals, and fluorine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Phosphate fertilizers are manufactured from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phosphate rocks and, according to their origin,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">may contain various micronutrients</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nickel, zinc) and heavy metals considered toxic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(arsenic, aluminum, beryllium cadmium, lead,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mercury, and vanadium) (Camelo et al., 1997</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and Mirlean et al., 2001). The build up of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxic heavy metals and fluorine in soils as</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a result of continuous application of phosphate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fertilizers has never been mentioned to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">general public.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The phosphate rocks are also enriched in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">uranium, thorium and their daughters,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deposited as calcium phosphate minerals</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by isomorphic substitution (Pfister et al.,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1976), since the natural uranium can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">substitute calcium in the phosphate rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">structure due to the similarity in ionic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">size between U4+ and Ca2+ (Guzman, 1992).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Depending on geographic location where the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phosphate rock is mined, it can contain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from 50 - 200 ppm of uranium. Phosphate rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is the major source of 'yellow cake'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(uranium oxide) for nuclear weapons and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the nuclear power industry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Where there is uranium in natural rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">formations, there will also be all its</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carcinogenic decay rate products; such</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as radium, radon, radioactive lead,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">polonium, thorium, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tailings from phosphoric acid production</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(phosphate fertiliser), phosphorgypsum, are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so radioactive that they are not allowed to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">be used for wall-board or road beds in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">US and Canada - because it is considered a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">radiation hazard. However, organic growers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are allowed to treat their fields with the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">raw, unprocessed product once every six years,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with none of the contaminants processed out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Taking a closer look at this 'natural' phosphate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rock mix, we find for example polonium-210:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One particle of polonium-210 gives off 5,000</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">times more alpha radiation than the same amount of radium. Damage occurs in the body from complete tissue absorption of the energy of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the alpha particle. Polonium-210 can be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carcinogenic to people exposed to more than</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">0.03 microcuries (6.8 trillionths of a gram).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are also high levels of Radium and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polonium-210 in granite dust, which is used</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by organic farmers, is some parts of the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">world as a soil conditioner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polonium is carried throughout the body in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the blood. It has been linked to more soft-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tissue cancers than cancerous bones; typical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sites are the liver, spleen, and kidney. The</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">most important pathway for radionuclide</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contamination of the food is the uptake by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plant from the ground through the roots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the contaminated foods have been</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ingested by man or animals, the radionuclides</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">produce an internal radiation dose in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">specific organs where they accumulate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polonium is found in tobacco grown with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phosphate fertilizers. Studies have suggested</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that radioactive polonium may be the primary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cause of smoking-related cancers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our water supplies are being flooded with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">radioactive elements, especially radon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is important to note that these do not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">simply dissipate in a few days, months,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or years - these radioactive elements will</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">emit radon for many thousands of years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The long-continued application of phosphate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fertilizers and their by-products can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">redistribute and elevate heavy metal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">concentrations in soil profiles, and,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">consequently, their availability for plants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and subsequent transfer to the human food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chain, mainly in acid soils.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Additionally, the long-continued application</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of phosphate fertilizers can also raise the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">heavy metal concentrations in irrigation</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">runoff/drainage from fertilized lands, and,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">then, their application in agricultural soils</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">constitute another source for workers and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">members of the public. One ounce @ 5.0% phosphate (about the amount used to fertilize one organic tomato plant as recommended by some organic growers) contains about 1.4 grams of fluoride, which is enough to kill a small child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phosphorus tests reported by 162 public water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suppliers in 7 states shows that between</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1998 and 2003, 3.3 million people in 113</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">communities drank water contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phosphorus. In all of these communities,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tap water was contaminated at levels above</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health-based thresholds. Phosphorus remains</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unregulated in tap water, without a maximum</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">legal limit. Water suppliers reporting tests</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for phosphate (1998-2003): 258 of 39,751.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PERCHLORATE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">25 APR 2007 | A bill to set national safety</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">standards for toxic rocket fuel perchlorate,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">found in drinking water supplies in more</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">than 20 states, is moving in Congress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, perchlorate is currently an</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unregulated contaminant. Officials found</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the rocket fuel ingredient perchlorate at</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">up to 1,300 parts per million in the fall -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">roughly 166 times higher than acceptable limits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perchlorate is a toxic chemical from military-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">industrial activities and the use of Chilean</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrate fertilizer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Production and use estimates of perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">are hard to come by: the military considers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the numbers secret, and fertilizer producers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">will not share them, saying they are proprietary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">information.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perchlorate can affect thyroid function -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">because perchlorate is an ion that inhibits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the transport of iodide into the thyroid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Scientists have found that a significant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">number of people are at risk of thyroid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">depression from perchlorate exposure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Extensive data indicate that thyroid-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pituitary disruption is the sole mode</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of action for the observed thyroid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tumors caused by perchlorate in rodents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A series of critical new studies by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">scientists at the Centers for Disease</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Control and Prevention show that the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EPA's proposed safe exposure level</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for the contaminant "perchlorate"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is not protective of public health. To</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">add insult to injury, the California</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Environmental Protection Agency</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">recently raised the limit on the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">amount of perchlorate allowed in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drinking water by 50%. Currently</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">there are no enforceable perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">safety standards, but Environmental</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Working Group (EWG) argues that a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">national safety standard should be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">no higher than one-tenth the EPA's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">currently recommended level.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Preliminary data from the Centers for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Disease Control and Prevention show</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that the amount of perchlorate in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">urine is too high to be from drinking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water alone. Studies have found perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in rainwater and common foods produced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in the U.S., such as dairy products and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">produce. Perchlorate is also found in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">produce worldwide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the first-ever tests of perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in off-the-shelf supermarket produce,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EWG found contamination averaging 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">times more than what the EPA says is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">safe in drinking water. The chemical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">has also been found in prenatal vitamins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and seaweed. Perchlorate can remain in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">food even after it is cooked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blast from the past: billions of kilograms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of Chilean nitrate fertilizer contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with perchlorate left a lasting impression.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between 1909 and 1929, the U.S. imported</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">an estimated 19 million tons of Chilean</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nitrate. The United States still uses 75,000</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">short tons of Chilean nitrate annually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, fresh fruits and vegetables from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">California and Central and South America had</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the highest levels of perchlorate. Just one</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">serving of some fruits can contain enough</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">perchlorate to exceed the National Academy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of Sciences safe daily dose by 25%, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wines and beers pack a bigger perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">punch than waters, according to a new study</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that measures perchlorate concentrations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in fruits, wines, and beers from around</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the world. The food contribution to daily</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">perchlorate exposure looks to be a horrendous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">disaster attributed to intensive farming,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irresponsible agricultural practices,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and military-industrial activities.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perchlorate's interference with iodide</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">uptake by the thyroid gland can decrease</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">production of thyroid function, which is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">needed for prenatal and postnatal growth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and development, as well as for normal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">metabolism and mental function in the adult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perchlorate is present in virtually all</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">milk samples; the average concentration</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in breast milk is five times higher than</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in dairy milk. Studies testify that high</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">levels of perchlorate in breast milk put</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the nation's infants at risk for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">developmental problems. Thyroid function is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">critical for development of the fetal and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">neonatal brain, as well as for many other</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aspects of fetal growth. The high levels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of perchlorate in breast milk are cause for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">serious concern and should lead to immediate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">government action to protect the public health.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">perchlorate tests reported by 982 public</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water suppliers in 7 states shows that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between 1998 and 2003, 26.2 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">people in 86 communities drank water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminated with perchlorate. In 8 of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these communities, tap water was contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at levels above health-based thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perchlorate remains unregulated in tap water,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">without a maximum legal limit. Perchlorate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is a known endocrine disruptor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ASBESTOS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Asbestos is a mineral fiber from decay of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">asbestos cement in water mains. Potential</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health impacts associated with asbestos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include cancer, immunotoxicity, and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">respiratory toxicity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of asbestos tests reported by 2,533 public</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water suppliers in 26 states shows that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">between 1998 and 2003, 8.6 million people</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in 147 communities drank water contaminated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with Asbestos. In 2 of these communities,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tap water was contaminated at levels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">above health-based thresholds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Contaminants Index</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Drinking water, including most bottled, reverse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">osmosis, and distilled water may reasonably be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">expected to contain some contaminants. U.S.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EPA sets standards for approximately 90</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminants in drinking water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The following are common contaminants found</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in public water, their potential health effects,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and the type of water filters that are capable</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of removing them:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2,4,5TP: This is an herbicide that is used</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">on crops and right-of-way areas. It can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cause liver and kidney damage. The maximum</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminant level is 0.05mg/L. A water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">filter that removes Volatile organic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chemicals (VOCs) will remove this compound.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">NSF standard 53.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2,4-D: This is an herbicide used on wheat, corn,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">range lands and lawns. The maximum amount allowed in public water is 0.07mg/L. Like the above herbicide it causes liver and kidney damage.  A charcoal/carbon filter (Standard 53) that removes VOCs will remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alachor: This is an herbicide used on corn,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soybeans, and other crops. The maximum amount allowed in public water is 0.002 mg/L. It</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is a carcinogen (i.e. it causes cancer).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A carbon/charcoal filter Standard 53,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that removes VOCs will remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arsenic: This is a heavy metal. It comes from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">smelters, glass and electronic wastes as well</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as from orchards and natural deposits. The</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">maximum contaminant level for arsenic is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">0.010 mg/L. Its potential health hazards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include skin and nervous system toxicity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arsenic is found in water in two different</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">forms: pentavalent (also known as Arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5 or arsenate) and Trivalent (Arsenic 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or Arsenite). Chlorine converts trivalent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to pentvalent arsenic. Carbon/charcoal,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reverse osmosis filters as well as</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">distillation will remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Distillation will remove trivalent and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pentvalent arsenic, while reverse osmosis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">will remove pentvalent only. Look for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Standards 53, 58, or 62.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Asbestos: This contaminant comes from natural</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deposits and asbestos cement used in water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">systems. The maximum contaminant level is 7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">million fibers per liter. It is a serious</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carcinogen. Carbon/charcoal and reverse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">osmosis remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Atrazine: This is an herbicide used on corn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and on non crop land. It can cause mammary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gland tumors. Its maximum contaminant level</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is 0.003 mg/L. Carbon/charcoal standard 53</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">filters will remove this contaminant. It is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">part of the VOC category.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bacteria: Bacteria are not supposed to be found</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in our public waters. But occasionally they may</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminate the water we drink. Sources are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">naturally occurring or from human or animal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wastes. Most of them cause gastrointestinal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">disorders. Ultraviolet treatment is usually</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">necessary for removal of these contaminants,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or look for NSF standard 55 filters. Class A</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inactivates or removes micro-forms from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminated water (not raw sewage) and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Class B disinfection systems remove naturally</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">occurring organisms found in public waters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that are deemed non-pathogenic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barium: This is a found in natural deposits,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">epoxy sealants, pigments and spent coal. Its</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">maximum contaminant level is 2 mg/L. It can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">potentially affect the circulatory system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cation exchange softeners, reverse osmosis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and distillation will remove barium. Look</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for standards 44, 58 and 62.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadmium: This is found in galvanized pipe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">corrosion, natural deposits, batteries and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">paints. It primarily effects the kidneys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Its maximum contaminant level is 0.005 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reverse osmosis, distillation remove it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Standards 58 and 62</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbufuran: This is a soil fumigant used on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">corn and cotton. It effects the nervous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reproductive systems. Its maximum contaminant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">level is 0.04 mg/L. Carbon/charcoal standard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">53 remove this. It is part of the VOC category.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chloramine: The effects of this contaminant are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unknown. It is used as a disinfectant. The</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">maximum recommended usage level is 4 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon/charcoal filters, standard 42 remove</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this contaminant. Systems certified for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reduction of chlorine will not necessarily</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">be effective against chloramines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chlordane: This is used for treating termites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maximum contaminant level is 0.002. It can</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cause cancerous conditions. Carbon/charcoal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">filters, Standard 53 will remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chlorides: Cause water to taste salty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maximum contaminant level is 250 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These come from natural deposits. Reverse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">osmosis and distillation may remove these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chlorine: This is used for disinfection of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drinking water. The chlorination by-products</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(trihalomethanes) have potential health effects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon/charcoal standard 42 filters will remove</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chlorine. Contact your local water utility to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">determine if chlorine or chloramines are used</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to disinfect your water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chlorination by-Products (trihalomethanes):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are by-products of chlorination in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drinking water and they are carcinogenic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The maximum contaminant level is 0.08 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon/charcoal standard 53 filters are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">effective at reducing these contaminants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chromium: This is a by-product of mining,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">electroplating, pigments and from natural</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deposits. It can be present in water in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">forms: hexavalent (chromium 6) and trivalent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(chromium 3). It can cause liver, kidney and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">circulatory disorders. Reverse osmosis and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">distillation Standards 53,58 and 62 remove</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chromium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Copper: From natural and industrial deposits,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wood preservatives, and plumbing. It may leach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from residential plumbing. The maximum</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminant level is 1.3 mg/L. It can cause</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal irritation. Charcoal/carbon,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reverse osmosis, and distillation, Standards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">42, 58 and 62 remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Crytosporidium: This is a parasite that is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">found in food or water contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">human or animal waste. It can cause</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal illness. Although public</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water should not have any cryptosporidium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in it, it is not uncommon to see people</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in the Portland area test positive on stool</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">test for it. Standard 53, 58 and 55 water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">filters should remove it. Look for a filter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">capable of removing spores < 1 micron.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-dichlorobenzene: part of the VOC category.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From paints, engine cleaning compounds, dyes,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chemical wastes. Causes liver, kidney and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">blood cell damage. Carbon block standard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">53 removes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hepatochlor Epoxide: A degradation product of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">heptachlor which is used in insectides,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">particularly for termite eradication. It is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a carcinogen. Allowable amount is 0.0002 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon block, standard 53 removes this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This contaminant is part of the VOC category.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hydrogen sulfide: causes the rotten egg odor in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water. It is a naturally occurring chemical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in water. Carbon block, standard 42 filters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">remove it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Iron: Maximum allowable amount is 0.3mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It can stain laundry, plumbing and appliances.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is from natural deposits in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon/charcoal filter, standard 42 will</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">remove it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">MTBE: From gasoline spills, underground gas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tank leakages. The potential health effects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include cancer, developmental toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin sensitivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Carbon block, standard 53 will remove it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nitrite: Can cause methemoglobulinemia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(blue baby syndrome). From animal waste,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fertilizer, natural deposits, septic tanks,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sewage. Maximum allowable level is 1 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It rapidly converts to nitrate. Reverse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">osmosis, standard 53, 58, 62 remove this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PCBs: from the coolants used in electrical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">transformers and plasticizers. PCBs are known</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carcinogens. Maximum allowable amount is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">0.0005 mg/L. Carbon block filters, standard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">53 remove this contaminant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Radium: This is a naturally occurring carcinogen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It can cause cancerous bones. Filters that remove it are reverse osmosis and cation exchange softeners, standard 44 and 58.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Radon: Another naturally occurring contaminant,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it is also a carcinogen and is a risk factor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for cancerous lung. Carbon/charcoal and aeration devices remove it. Look for a standard 53.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Selenium: maximum contaminant level is 0.05 mg/L. It is from natural deposits, mining, smelting, coal/oil combustion. Too much selenium can cause liver damage. Standard 58, 62 reverse osmosis filters will reduce selenium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulfates: can cause gastrointestinal irritation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are naturally occurring. Reverse osmosis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or distillation may be effective at removing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sulfuric acid and nitric acid: acid rain occurs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">transformations. Reverse osmosis, distillation,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carbon/charcoal filters will not remove them -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the water needs to be ionized.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Styrene: Maximum allowable amount 0.10 mg/L.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Styrene is from plastic, rubber, resin and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drug industries. It also can leach from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">landfills into the ground water. It causes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">liver and nervous system damage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Taste and odor: From natural sources and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">additives. Carbon/charcoal standard 42.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Total dissolved solids: Come from the erosion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of naturally occurring mineral deposits. TDS's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">antagonizes the assimilation of other minerals</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and causes secondary mineral deficiencies. They can also cause gastrointestinal irritation in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some people. Maximum level should not exceed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">500 mg/L. Standard 42, 58, 62 distillation,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reverse osmosis remove these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toxaphene: A carcinogenic insecticide that was</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">used on cattle, cotton, and soybeans. Standard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">53, carbon/charcoal filter to remove it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Trichloroethylene: A carcinogen found in textile,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">metal and adhesive degreasers. Carbon/charcoal standard 53 removes it. This is part of the VOC category.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turbidity: from soil run off, it can interfere</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with disinfection and filtration. Charcoal/carbon;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reverse osmosis standards 53, 58 can remove.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Uranium: Causes kidney problems, cancer. Maximum allowable amount is 0.03 mg/L. Filtration systems are not currently certified to remove uranium although reverse osmosis, distillation or anion exchange resins may.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Micro-forms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water is usually a result of a problem with the treatment system or the pipes which distribute water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fecal Coliform and E coli are bacteria whose</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">presence indicates that the water may be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">contaminated with human or animal wastes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Micro-forms in these wastes can cause</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turbidity has no health effects. However,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">turbidity can interfere with disinfection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and provide a medium for biological transformation.  Turbidity may indicate the presence of dis-ease causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, yeast, mold and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cryptosporidium is a parasite that enters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lakes and rivers through sewage and animal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">waste. It causes cryptosporidiosis, a mild</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gastrointestinal disease. However, the dis-ease</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">can be severe or fatal for people with severely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">weakened immune systems. EPA and CDC have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">prepared advice for those with severely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">compromised immune systems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Giardia lamblia is a parasite that enters lakes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and rivers through sewage and animal waste.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It causes gastrointestinal illness (e.g.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">diarrhea, vomiting, cramps).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Radionuclides</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alpha emitters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a form of radiation known as alpha radiation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some people who drink water containing alpha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">emitters in excess of EPA's standard over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">many years may have an increased risk of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">increased acidity leading to cancerous</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tissue and tumor formation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Beta/photon emitters. Certain minerals are</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">radioactive and may emit forms of radiation</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">known as photons and beta radiation. Some</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">people who drink water containing beta and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">photon emitters in excess of EPA's standard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">over many years may have an increased risk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of cellular transformation, increased acidity</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">leading to cancerous tissue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Combined Radium 226/228. Some people who</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drink water containing radium 226 or 228</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in excess of EPA's standard over many years</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">may have an increased risk of cellular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">transformation and increased acidity leading</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to cancerous states.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Radon gas can dissolve and accumulate in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">underground water sources, such as wells,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and in the air in your home. Breathing radon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">can cause the fermentation of lung tissue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and cancerous lungs. Drinking water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing radon presents a risk of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">developing cancer. Radon in air is more</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dangerous than radon in water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few more inorganic contaminants:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Antimony, Beryllium, Cyanide, and Thallium</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arsenic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some people who drink water containing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">arsenic in excess of EPA's standard over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">many years could experience skin damage</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or problems with their circulatory system,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and may have an increased risk of cellular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fermentation and cancerous states.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">http://www.phmiracleliving.com/arsenic.htm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lead typically leaches into water from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plumbing in older buildings. Lead pipes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and plumbing fittings have been banned</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">since August 1998. Children and pregnant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">women are most susceptible to lead health</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">risks. For advice on avoiding lead, see</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the how to remove lead in your drinking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water fact sheet prepared by EPA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOCs) benzene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1,1-Dichloroethylene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">trans-1,2-Dicholoroethylene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1,2-Dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1,1,1,-Trichloroethane,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toluene, Vinyl Chloride, and Xylenes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chlorine. Some people who use drinking water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing chlorine well in excess of EPA's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">standard could experience irritating effects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water containing chlorine well in excess of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EPA's standard could experience stomach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">discomfort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chloramine. Some people who use drinking water containing chloramines well in excess of EPA's standard could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing chloramines well in excess of EPA's standard could experience stomach discomfort or anemia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Total Trihalomethanes. Some people who drink</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water containing trihalomethanes in excess of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EPA's standard over many years may experience</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">problems with their liver, kidneys, or central</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nervous systems, and may have an increased risk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of cancerous tissue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">http://www.phmiracleliving.com/ionizer5000.htm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Haloacetic Acids. Some people who drink water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">containing haloacetic acids in excess of EPA's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">standard over many years may have an increased risk of cancerous tissue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">http://www.phmiracleliving.com/ionizer5000.htm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bromate. Some people who drink water containing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bromate in excess of EPA's standard. Bromate is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a disinfection by-product of ozonation. Potential</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health impacts associated with Bromate include</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cancerous tissue and kidney toxicity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bromate tests reported by 73 public water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suppliers in 16 states shows that between</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1998 and 2003, 3.9 million people in 20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">communities drank water contaminated with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bromate. In 11 of these communities, tap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water was contaminated at levels above</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">health-based thresholds. Water suppliers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reporting tests for Bromate (1998-2003):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">73 of 39,751.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">MTBE is a fuel additive, commonly used in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">United States to reduce carbon monoxide and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ozone levels caused by auto emissions. Due to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">its widespread use, reports of MTBE detections</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in the nation's ground and surface water supplies are increasing. The Office of Water and other EPA offices are working with a panel of leading experts to focus on issues posed by the continued use of MTBE and other oxygenates in gasoline. EPA is currently studying the implications of setting a drinking water standard for MTBE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Potential health impacts associated with MTBE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">include cancerous conditions, developmental</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sensitivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Environmental Working Group analysis of MTBE tests reported by 16,866 public water suppliers in 30 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 32.7 million people in 632 communities drank water contaminated with MTBE. MTBE remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.  Water suppliers reporting tests for MTBE (1998-2003):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">16,866 of 39,751.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this informational article is part of a larger</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">U.S. EPA publication: EPA National Primary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Drinking Water Regulations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more information of the published articles on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">alkaline water and the chemistry of acid/alkaline</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">water go to:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">http://www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">http://www.phmiracleliving.com/water.htm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As someone that looks to improve their health we are pleased to offer you this free audio, an excerpt of a powerful two hour interview with Dr Robert O. Young and Anthony Robbins. (it is free to listen!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click here to listen: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1870270</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I trust you'll enjoy this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not part of our healing alkaline community?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visit our website at:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">www.phmiracleliving.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To learn more about the science of Dr. Robert go to:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'Miracles happen not in opposition to nature, but in opposition to what we know of nature.' St. Augustine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' ....Arthur C. Clarke</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'There are only two ways to live your life. One, is as though there are no miracles. The other is as though everything is a miracle.' Albert Einstein</div><br /><br /></div>

The Truth About Water!

Clean drinking water is something that the public has pretty much taken for granted for the past hundred years. The public has little idea--...

Read more »